"Babar Azam was the ideal batting partner for me" : Tom Banton

[MenInG]

England batsman Tom Banton spoke to Saj (for SkySports) about how he is looking forward to the new experience of playing in Pakistan and the chance to test his skills against formidable opponents.

Tom Banton scored three fifties in seven innings for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash​

When it comes to hot property in the world of cricket, there are not too many in bigger demand than Tom Banton.

With three T20I and as many ODI appearances already for England and a successful Big Bash season under his belt with Brisbane Heat, the big-hitting 21-year-old has been high on the shopping list for T20 franchises.

Banton, who formed an explosive opening partnership with Babar Azam for Somerset in last summer's Vitality Blast, is now all set to bring his aggressive batting to the Pakistan Super League with Peshawar Zalmi and then in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Banton spoke about how he is looking forward to the new experience of playing in Pakistan and the chance to test his skills against formidable opponents.

"I am really excited about representing Peshawar Zalmi," said the England man. "I was watching the draft live back home to see what happened and it was pleasing to see my name come out.

Banton has played six white-ball games for England​

"I've heard a lot of good things about the Peshawar franchise. From what I've seen, they have a lot of very good players with a good mixture of locals and some quality international players.

"It's always good to speak with players who have played for the franchise you've signed for and gauge their opinions, so I spoke with Chris Jordan and he said he has loved his time with Peshawar over the past few years. I'm looking forward to the experience of being in Pakistan and it would be really good if we could go on and win the PSL title this year."

Pakistan have struggled for visits from overseas teams and players since the Lahore attacks in 2009 but things are moving in the right direction.

There were recent visits by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and now the fifth edition of the PSL will be held entirely on home soil. The allure of playing in front of some of the most enthusiastic knowledgeable crowds is something that appeals to Banton.

"One of the big draws is playing in front of the very big crowds. The country is cricket-mad so it's going to be cool to be involved in this great competition. Also, my Somerset team-mates Babar Azam and Azhar Ali will be there so it'll be great to catch up with them.

Babar Azam is the top-ranked T20I batsman in world cricket​

"I understand that there have been some concerns about security in Pakistan previously, but all those issues are in the past and I haven't thought about that at all. From what I've heard it's very safe and a very good country to play cricket in."

Babar Azam's phenomenal 2019 Blast campaign, where he scored 578 runs at an average of 52.54, would have been a treat to watch for Somerset fans - as well as for Banton, who was more often than not at the other end.

"Babar is very calm and a relaxed individual. He was the ideal batting partner for me as sometimes he would tell me to calm down when I got over-eager in my stroke-play.

"He does play differently to me and plays correct shots whereas my style is more about swinging as hard as I can. But what I did learn from him was his ability to be so relaxed when he is at the crease.

"His style of play taught me that a few dot balls don't mean anything because you can catch up quickly so there is no reason to be stressed.

Banton's brilliant, maiden, 51-ball century for Somerset in the Vitality Blast was one of the reasons England came calling
"I must also mention another brilliant Pakistan player that I had the pleasure to play with at Somerset, Azhar Ali, who is also a good friend of mine now and someone I stay in touch with on a regular basis.

"Like Babar, he has helped me a lot in my game and also been great for the club and everyone there. Despite being such an experienced international cricketer, he was always ready to help out and would throw balls at anyone for hours if needed."

Banton feels that playing in leagues such as the PSL and IPL can provide good learning opportunities for younger players.

"I think playing in different T20 Leagues provides you with a good and valuable experience of different conditions. Also, you get to meet new coaches who have different ideas and that shapes your own experience and learning, too.

"Personally speaking, I have loved my first winter of franchise cricket and really enjoyed it. Everywhere I have played has given me something new to experience and I have been lucky to be exposed to new environments and new team-mates. I hope that continues in the future."

While I have had success in limited-overs cricket, I’m very keen to play in all formats for England in future. But for now, I have to admit that this past year has just gone better for me in white-ball cricket so I have concentrated mainly on that.​

Banton's progress has been rapid. In his debut season in the Big Bash, he scored 223 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 176.98. Now he is being earmarked as a must-have for Twenty20 franchises and could also be playing in the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

"It's been crazy, to be honest. This time last year I wasn't enjoying cricket that much but it's scary how quickly it's changed.

"I know that the T20 World Cup is not too far away, but the current England squad is very strong at the moment and I just have to wait my turn.

"Hopefully over the next few months I will be able to put a few scores together and put my name in the hat and see what happens after that."

Pakistan remain No 1 in the T20I rankings but the T20 World Cup looks set to be wide open.

India's clinical demolition of New Zealand recently sent a strong message to their opponents, but the manner in which England took on South Africa to win their T20I series makes them the team to beat, according to Banton.

"Looking at their current form, India and Australia will provide a strong challenge but I do think England will be favourites because of what they have achieved in the last few years in white-ball cricket.

"The team is so strong. It's actually scary for the opposition when everyone in the team gets going."

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/n...rning-from-t20-leagues-as-he-gets-set-for-psl

 

[SensiblePakFan]

He's gonna need to have a big outing to get anywhere near that packed England sqaud but he has the ability to do it.

 

[Rana]

It’s so true. Babar works so well if you have a gun opener like Warner, Lynn or Gayle at the other end.

 

[Bewal Express]

Tom Banton has arrogance( at the junior levels he wanted humiliate opponents) but has the talent to back it up.

 

[Danyaalr01]

WOuld have been nice if he could open with Babar for KK.

 

[Saj]

Super talent this.

Could be a brilliant signing for Zalmi.

This guy hits a long ball and can destroy any bowling attack.

 

[MenInG]

Batting for Zalmi in the game against KK - lets see how he does.

 

[Saj]

That was more like the Tom Banton we have seen in County cricket and the BBL.

Some lovely shots. He's got such a good eye.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Its pretty clear Banton will be big. Immensely talented and as many have already said, has shades of Pietersen.

 

[shamaan]

Good to youngsters bantom and haider putting up a show

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Tom Banton in PSL

Was one of the players i was really looking forward to, alongside Haider Ali, Umar Khan, Akif Javed , Zeeshan Ashraf and Naseem Shah (talking about the newbies)

Tom Banton has been the major disappointment

the way he was bashing everyone in T20 blast in England and Big Bash, I had high hopes....

is being found out? or the pitches dont suit him? or its just better bowling class than he experienced in the previous leagues?

 

[Mamoon]

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

ur usual inferiority complex and winging is becoming a rubbish ....
get some medicine or find a better way to get the crap out... use wat normal people do, and then flush it

 

[silentkiller187]

NO ONE :


ABSOLUTELY NO ONE :

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

People are talking about Tom Banton and you want to spout your usual nonsense about PSL bowling attacks, typical.

 

[Rana]

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

What’s your issue man?

 

[Mamoon]

NO ONE :


ABSOLUTELY NO ONE :




People are talking about Tom Banton and you want to spout your usual nonsense about PSL bowling attacks, typical.

What’s your issue man?

Read the OP/post after it was merged in this thread.

 

[Mamoon]

ur usual inferiority complex and winging is becoming a rubbish ....
get some medicine or find a better way to get the crap out... use wat normal people do, and then flush it

Don’t get upset because I debunked your claim that he is struggling because of the quality of bowling that he’s facing.

 

[Poutine]

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

No offence but why are you posting pretty much the same thing in every PSL thread? We get it you think PSL is garbage, what exactly do you want posters here to do?

Do you want people to stop watching it or do you want people to explicitly say IPL is better than PSL in every post?

 

[Mamoon]

No offence but why are you posting pretty much the same thing in every PSL thread? We get it you think PSL is garbage, what exactly do you want posters here to do?

Do you want people to stop watching it or do you want people to explicitly say IPL is better than PSL in every post?

I am replying to the OP, or am I not allowed to do that?

 

[Rana]

I am replying to the OP, or am I not allowed to do that?

He’s asked you a genuine question. Whah do you want us to do now?

 

[Poutine]

I am replying to the OP, or am I not allowed to do that?

You can post what you want but your post here is pretty much a replica of what you said in the Alex Hales thread. We get it you think PSL is rubbish but I don’t understand why you seem to react so much when someone praises any aspect of PSL.

PSL obviously doesn’t have the stars that IPL has but that doesn’t mean people can’t say any positive thing about it.

 

[Mamoon]

He’s asked you a genuine question. Whah do you want us to do now?

And I gave him a genuine answer. He has only been dismissed by two PSL-exclusive bowlers, and one of them is not good enough for international cricket.

 

[Mamoon]

You can post what you want but your post here is pretty much a replica of what you said in the Alex Hales thread. We get it you think PSL is rubbish but I don’t understand why you seem to react so much when someone praises any aspect of PSL.

PSL obviously doesn’t have the stars that IPL has but that doesn’t mean people can’t say any positive thing about it.

You can be positive about PSL without being delusional. Even I can be positive about PSL.

 

[Bewal Express]

Tom has struggled with expectations but he is bloody minded and will come good. Not the nicest person from my own experience but an amazing talent.

 

[Rana]

And I gave him a genuine answer. He has only been dismissed by two PSL-exclusive bowlers, and one of them is not good enough for international cricket.

Ok what is your point? Tom Banton is basically not good enough for International standards? Or Pakistani bowlers are so poor.

What are you trying to prove?

 

[Mamoon]

Ok what is your point? Tom Banton is basically not good enough for International standards? Or Pakistani bowlers are so poor.

What are you trying to prove?

My point is that his lack of runs has nothing to do with the so-called high quality bowling of PSL.

 

[Rudi hater]

PSL would over take more most leagues around the world in the very near future as its happening in Pakistan now. Already they are ahead of BPL, CBL, Blast.

 

[silentkiller187]

My point is that his lack of runs has nothing to do with the so-called high quality bowling of PSL.

Thats a fair point but to be honest not many people here are claiming Tom Banton is failing in the PSL because fo the high class bowling, a lot of people want him to do well actually.

 

[Rana]

My point is that his lack of runs has nothing to do with the so-called high quality bowling of PSL.

Has anyone with decent cricketing knowledge/pedigree of cricket knowledge said anything as suggested by you or are you just demonstrating insecurity?

 

[Rana]

Tom Banton will smash a 40 ball ton or a 60 ball 140+ score at some point. The guy is genuinely a gun player

 

[Mamoon]

Has anyone with decent cricketing knowledge/pedigree of cricket knowledge said anything as suggested by you or are you just demonstrating insecurity?

Again, read the post I replied to. It is a loaded question, and the same poster is beating the drum of PSL’s so-called superior bowling in other threads.

 

[Rana]

Was one of the players i was really looking forward to, alongside Haider Ali, Umar Khan, Akif Javed , Zeeshan Ashraf and Naseem Shah (talking about the newbies)

Tom Banton has been the major disappointment

the way he was bashing everyone in T20 blast in England and Big Bash, I had high hopes....

is being found out? or the pitches dont suit him? or its just better bowling class than he experienced in the previous leagues?

Bruv give it a rest.

This guy is elite class. Plus he’s genuinely a top lad. He will come good when PZ need him most

 

[Pakpak]

Tom has struggled with expectations but he is bloody minded and will come good. Not the nicest person from my own experience but an amazing talent.

How so? rude? I saw Tim Bresnon once and went upto him, guy was more rude than words can explain.

 

[Rana]

How so? rude? I saw Tim Bresnon once and went upto him, guy was more rude than words can explain.

Tbh if you catch anyone at a time when they don’t want to be approached you might see a dark side of them. But overall English cricketers are known to be the most receptive to the general public and especially young cricket fans.

 

[Pakpak]

Tbh if you catch anyone at a time when they don’t want to be approached you might see a dark side of them. But overall English cricketers are known to be the most receptive to the general public and especially young cricket fans.

He acted as if he didn't hear my hello, completely blanked me. And brushed past my outstretched hand.

 

[silentkiller187]

Tbh if you catch anyone at a time when they don’t want to be approached you might see a dark side of them. But overall English cricketers are known to be the most receptive to the general public and especially young cricket fans.

agreed, especially with the t20 blast, i went to a few games last season via corporate sponsors, and you get to mingle with the players after. On a whole most of the english bunch are very receptive to fans and questions and will get involved in banter, it is just human nature that when you have a bad day or something you will come across as rude or arrogant.

 

[Bewal Express]

How so? rude? I saw Tim Bresnon once and went upto him, guy was more rude than words can explain.

I should have said arrogant- he knew he was good and he would demean the lesser players. He once got the umpire to film him reverse pulling a fast bowler in a Mid week game. His dad on the other was always a gentlemen.

 

[Bewal Express]

The nicest person i have met at a cricket match is Umer Amin.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

There were 3 reasons given and it was a question. So keep ur bias on the side and open u inferior mind

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Bruv give it a rest.

This guy is elite class. Plus he’s genuinely a top lad. He will come good when PZ need him most

I agree. I wanted to see him perform but he hasnt. Maybe just differnece in pitches making it difficult for him to adjust. Cant b form as he was amazing in bbl just days before psl

 

[Bewal Express]

No doubt he will come good but he has faced some very good bowlers and the quality of the fast bowling is sustained. If the PSL can sort out the poor spin bowling, then it would have the best T20 bowlers( depth wise)

 

[Hasan123]

Must be the unmatched bowling quality.

So far, he has been dismissed by the following bowlers:

Chris Jordan who plays in every franchise league including IPL until 2018.

Tymal Mills, who also plays around the circuit in franchise cricket. However, he hasn’t been deemed good enough by IPL and BBL for a couple of years now.

Irfan, the Joel Garner 2.0 who was getting stick cricket treatment in Australia few months back, and has not been good enough for international cricket for years now.

Wiese, a very mediocre trundler, who hasn’t played IPL for 4 years and has never played in the BBL. If I am not wrong, he wasn’t even picked in his own country’s franchise league last year.

Amir, good bowler but someone who regularly struggles to take wickets consistently in international cricket.

So yes, it must be the bowling attack. If Banton would face such quality week in week out, he would probably be flipping chicken at Nando’s.

It simply has nothing to do with the slight possibility that he may not be in good touch, or as a very young player, is prone to making mistakes at this stage of his career.

Chris Jordan is playing for Kings XI Punjab in this year IPL.

 

[MenInG]

Dropped by Zalmi for the game against Quetta.

 

[MenInG]

Lets see how he does today - plays some Booming shots!

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Biggest failure of PSL 5

13, 3 , 4 , 34, 0, 20, 0

tht 3rd match 4 was also getting dropped on 1st ball before getting out on 2nd

2 first ball ducks ...

defianatly a big disaapointment ... crashed and smashed everyone in T20 Blast and BigBash but easily the biggest failure of PSL...

 

[MenInG]

Biggest failure of PSL 5

13, 3 , 4 , 34, 0, 20, 0

tht 3rd match 4 was also getting dropped on 1st ball before getting out on 2nd

2 first ball ducks ...

defianatly a big disaapointment ... crashed and smashed everyone in T20 Blast and BigBash but easily the biggest failure of PSL...

Hope he will learn from the experience.

 

[shamaan]

Hope he will learn from the experience.

Only has one way of playing needs to give him self some time like haider ali

 

[Abdullah719]

Tom Banton admits lockdown has helped rekindle his ‘fading’ love for cricket

Tom Banton admitted his love for cricket was “fading slowly” before the coronavirus lockdown after a punishing winter schedule in which he combined his England commitments with life on the domestic Twenty20 treadmill.

Banton burst on to the scene for Somerset last year and was fast-tracked into England’s limited-overs teams over the winter as a result, making his T20 bow in New Zealand and his one-day international debut in South Africa.

He shone in Australia’s Big Bash League but was at a particularly low ebb following a lean run in the Pakistan Super League, where he registered two golden ducks and a top-score of 35 in seven innings for Peshawar Zalmi.

After a welcome break, Banton now feels refreshed and revealed he did not think about cricket once he was one of the vast majority of county professionals furloughed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 21-year-old told the PA news agency: “The schedule is obviously so busy and this winter I spent about two weeks at home, probably. So to get three or four months off cricket was probably the perfect thing for me and my cricket.

“I was really excited to get back which was nice because I felt like the love of cricket was not going but it was fading slowly, just because I was playing too much.

“It was nice to take my mind off cricket and focus on just spending time with my family and doing other things.

“I haven’t thought about cricket during lockdown. I just had some time away from it completely, I didn’t even put a pair of gloves on, it was actually very much needed after quite a busy winter.”

Banton paid tribute to Hashim Amla for his influence while they were together at the PSL, with the former South Africa captain helping the youngster to see the bigger picture amid his slump in form.

Banton said: “In Pakistan we had Hashim Amla as our batting consultant and he sat me down after a low few scores and said ‘it’s not all about cricket, there’s a lot more to life than a first-baller’ – and I got some of those.

“It was really nice to work with Hash and see how he goes about it. It made me take a step back and realise just to enjoy it as this opportunity may never happen again, so try to enjoy it as much as I can.”

Included in England’s white-ball training group ahead of the three one-day internationals against Ireland, the first of which starts at the Ageas Bowl next week, Banton was a star performer in the second intra-squad match.

A wonder catch at backward point was followed by a classy 57 not out from 56 balls after his side – led by James Vince with England captain Eoin Morgan sitting out this 40-over encounter – had lurched to four for three.

The top three were all dismissed for nought against a team captained by Moeen Ali, who had collapsed to 108 all out after 28.4 overs, with Liam Dawson taking four for 21 on his home ground and Lewis Gregory three for 29.

While Banton is known for his highlight-reel big hits, he showed a more measured approach as he and Laurie Evans adapted to their situation in Southampton in a 67-run stand which broke the back of the chase.

Only once he was settled did the boundaries flow, finishing with six fours and two sixes, as ‘Team Vince’ overhauled their meagre target with six wickets and 22.2 overs to spare.

Banton added: “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to dig in and work the ball around but I’m still going to stick to what I’ve done to get here.

“That’s the one thing I’ve been told: don’t change the way you play. I gave myself some time then just played the way I have done.”

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/tom-banton-admits-lockdown-helped-190246504.html

 

[MenInG]

England's one-day side is "the most difficult sports team in the world" to break into, according to batsman Tom Banton.

The three-match one-day international series against Ireland has given a number of players the opportunity to press their claims with a number of the world champions' key personnel missing as they gear up for the Test series against Pakistan.

Banton is among those trying to force his way into Eoin Morgan's side and will want to finish the series in style in Tuesday's third ODI.

"It's probably the most difficult sports team in the world to get into at the moment," he said.

"Especially for me as an opener, trying to get in ahead of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow is pretty hard. I'm just going to keep trying to score as many runs as possible and see where that takes me."

That established partnership of Roy and Bairstow at the top of the order has meant Banton has had to slot in at No 4 in the first two games against Ireland and after scores of 11 and 15, he is hoping to go big in the third.

"I'd like to think [I'm due a score]. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself and enjoy it," he added. "Playing for England is a dream come true and whether this is my last game for England or whatever, I'm just going to try and enjoy it as much as possible.

"Every level I've gone up to, it's taken me a few games to get used. I remember when I first started playing for Somerset for the first 10 games I didn't get above 40 and then I got a hundred.

"That gives you a bit of confidence and you don't look back. I'm hoping that big score is just around the corner and I can kick on from there."

Meanwhile, England will be without Reece Topley though as they try to complete a 3-0 series whitewash after the seamer was ruled out with a left groin strain.

The 26-year-old left-armer will have a scan to confirm the extent of the injury but England are not expecting him to be out of action for more than a couple of weeks.

Even if the injury does prove to be relatively minor, Topley will no doubt be frustrated to miss Tuesday's game at the Ageas Bowl having made his first England appearance since 2016 in Saturday's win in Southampton, after an injury-ravaged few years.

Topley looked sharp, taking 1-31 in his nine overs, and will be targeting a return to fitness in time for England's three-match T20I series against Pakistan at the end of August.

Tom Curran played the series opener and is likely to return to the XI in Topley's absence.

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/n...am-in-the-world-to-break-into-says-tom-banton

 

[Thunderbolt14]

If it were that hard, you wouldn’t be playing, buddy. You have it in you, just get some runs on the board in the next game so they can at least continue backing you.

Banton’s a Limited Overs superstar in the making, unfortunately he had a pretty forgettable first PSL season and now England debut. His first IPL stint also got pushed a couple months and Hundred got cancelled. Hasn’t been a great year for him - exactly one year ago today he was smashing it around for Somerset, but nothing since.

He just needs to regroup and find himself. Talked about enjoying the stint and not putting pressure on himself but ironically it seems he’s doing just that by thinking two steps ahead about how he can find a place around Roy and Bairstow. Just make use of the opportunities you get, grab with both hands and don’t look back.

 

[MenInG]

Lets see how he does vs his PSL buddies in the IT20 series

 

[MenInG]

So Banton vs Babar

Lets see who outscores the other!

 

[The Viper]

61*(36) for Banton so far. He is taking the game away, pretty good chance of a ton also.

 

[The Viper]

 

[The Viper]

Finally gone for 71(42)

 

[Rana]

Brutal knock. You can’t give this guy 2 lives!

 

[Bewal Express]

Batted brilliantly today. People in Barnt Green will be very proud of him.

 

[sweep_shot]

He was superb today. Five sixes.

 

[Ellipsism]

There was an over that Dan Worral bowled to him up at the GC where he got the ball to do a bit and I don’t think I’ve seen a top order batsman look more lost and confused. He’s clearly got ability but people should chill with the hype.

 

[Firebat]

View attachment 103023

These ramp shots he was playing, especially the one he hit for 6, it's just extraordinary. He's certainly got the fast hands, young brute confidence and 360 shots of a truly destructive modern batsman.

We'd all be singing a different tune if chacha held onto that catch at slip though...

 

[CricFan2012]

dropped catch means sketchy and lucky innings, judge him when he gets a decent score that doesn't ride on luck like that

 

[MenInG]

Tom Banton announced himself on the international stage with a thrilling 71 off 42 balls before rain washed out England's first Twenty20 against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old became the youngest England player to score a T20 half-century as he hit four fours and five sixes.

His departure was the first of four wickets to fall for 14 runs, shortly before rain intervened with England 131-6 after 16.1 overs.

Play was abandoned at 21:00 BST, although better weather is forecast for the second T20 of the three-match series at the same ground on Sunday.

That game will be shown live on BBC One at 13:45, the return of live cricket to the BBC for the first time in 21 years.

One of the most devastating limited-overs batsmen on the county circuit, Banton had a solitary fifty to show from his opening nine games for England in one-day and T20 cricket.

There was little early on in Manchester to suggest he would buck that trend, put down by Iftikhar Ahmed - a regulation chance at slip - on five and struggling for timing on a two-paced pitch after seeing Jonny Bairstow drill the fifth delivery of the game back to Imad Wasim.

That England's first 50 runs took 49 balls - their slowest start since the last T20 World Cup - reflected Banton and Dawid Malan's lack of fluency.

The next 50 came off only 19 deliveries, thanks largely to Banton's brilliance.

If three leg-side sixes off leg-spinner Shadab Khan demonstrated his reach and power, the casual ramp over fine leg for six off Haris Rauf, Pakistan's quickest bowler, was an example of his range of stroke and astonishing hand-eye co-ordination.

Having been involved in a mix-up that left Malan stranded mid-pitch and run out for 23, Banton skied a leading edge to cover as he aimed across the line in the 13th over.

Eoin Morgan was lbw on the sweep to Iftikhar moments later, Moeen Ali was caught behind attempting to cut Shadab, and Lewis Gregory was stumped advancing to Imad.

The impact of England's slide from 109-2 to 123-6 was such that they will arguably have been the happier of the sides when rain arrived at 19:20.

'It was good fun'
In reaching fifty off 33 balls, Banton took the record held by Jonny Bairstow, who was 22 when he made his maiden T20 half-century for England.

"I am always going to play that way no matter what happens," Somerset batsman Banton told BBC Test Match Special.

"It was good fun tonight and unfortunately the rain got the better of us."

Banton had managed only 56 runs in three T20s since making his England debut in New Zealand in November.

"It's a bit of confidence moving forward because I have not had that in the past," he said.

"I was in Pakistan for the PSL (Pakistan Super League) and didn't do that well, so I was a bit worried coming into this game.

"They bowled really nicely up front and it was tricky. I went after a few of their bowlers and got the better of them."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/53953752

 

[Saj]

Got a life when on 5 but he made the most of it. Hits the ball so cleanly and makes it look almost effortless.

 

[Hasan123]

He is so good to watch. Going to be a top class player. England will play him in about 20/30 T20s before making him a regular in ODIs.

 

[Shazzam]

He will be Pieterson of English cricket.

 

[shamaan]

He is so good to watch. Going to be a top class player. England will play him in about 20/30 T20s before making him a regular in ODIs.

Would he get in England t20 team

 

[Hasan123]

Would he get in England t20 team

My England T20 batting line up is

Buttler
Roy
Bairstow
Stokes
Morgan
Moen

He seems best suited to opening, with Moen out of form you could drop Buttler Buttler the order and open with Banton.

If he keeps on batting like he did in the first T20 he has a good chance of eventually getting in the line up.

 

[Firebat]

My England T20 batting line up is

Buttler
Roy
Bairstow
Stokes
Morgan
Moen

He seems best suited to opening, with Moen out of form you could drop Buttler Buttler the order and open with Banton.

If he keeps on batting like he did in the first T20 he has a good chance of eventually getting in the line up.

I would rather open with Banton and keep Buttler as a floater up and down the order, as England like to do, to ensure that every time he comes in with 10-12 overs to go and plays a Buttler blitz. Don't need to concern him with the new ball

 

[Hasan123]

I would rather open with Banton and keep Buttler as a floater up and down the order, as England like to do, to ensure that every time he comes in with 10-12 overs to go and plays a Buttler blitz. Don't need to concern him with the new ball

Buttler has a terrific strike rate as an opener. He did well as an opener in the IPL and the next world T20 is India. England played him as an opener so they are thinking about playing him there in T20s.

Have a look at Moragn strike rate in T20s at the death. He is more than capable of being a finisher.

I find it disrespectful when people think Buttler is just a finisher. He has shown he can help the rebuild an innings and then blast away at the end. And as I said he has done well as an opener in the IPL on unfamiliar pitches.

 

[shamaan]

My England T20 batting line up is

Buttler
Roy
Bairstow
Stokes
Morgan
Moen

He seems best suited to opening, with Moen out of form you could drop Buttler Buttler the order and open with Banton.

If he keeps on batting like he did in the first T20 he has a good chance of eventually getting in the line up.

I would go
Roy
Bairstow
Malan
Morgan
Stokes
Buttler

 

[ElRaja]

hes got super fast hands, which means it doesn't matter if u have fielders back, he will be confident of hitting sixes, that added to his ramp shot means setting fields to him will be super difficult.

the flip side of that is that he will likely find batting against top spinners difficult cos his get out shots are aerial. still hes one of the best young t20 batsmen in the world.

 

[The Viper]

IPL 2020: Tom Banton better version of Kevin Pietersen, says KKR chief mentor David Hussey

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made exciting signings but the veterans would be ultra-critical to whether a third Indian Premier League (IPL) title comes in the UAE this time, said chief mentor David Hussey.

“I am excited about all the signings. The overseas players haven’t arrived yet but we are excited to see Tom Banton play live, he was phenomenal in the Big Bash. But I think it is going to be the wily veterans in Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell who are going to be ultra-critical. They control the culture of the group and I think they are going to go a long way in helping the other boys, the newcomers, the youngsters,” said Hussey on Sunday.

Calling Banton the ‘X-factor’ twice in a 12-minute session, Hussey said, “he is new version or better version of Kevin Pietersen.” Banton, 21, is a wicket-keeper batsman bought for Rs 1 crore at the players’ auction here last December. Playing for Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Big Bash League last season, Banton had a strike rate of 176.98 --- Russell’s striker rate last year was 182.12 --- on way to three half-centuries in seven games. Against Pakistan last month, Banton scored 71 (42b; 4x4; 6x5) and 46 (31b; 4x8) opening the innings for England in T20Is.

KKR’s opening combination is up for discussion, said Hussey not ruling out the possibility of Shubman Gill and even Russell partnering Sunil Narine who started the 2020 Caribbean Premier League with two half-centuries, aggregating 140 runs at a strike rate of 150.5, before missing games to have kidney stones removed.

With Australia vice-captain Pat Cummins and England captain Eoin Morgan in the side, Karthik shouldn’t be wanting for inputs on the field. Hussey even referred to Morgan once as vice-captain and said the presence of a 50-over World Cup winning captain should benefit Karthik.

“A classy player, he will be a great ally to Karthik, maybe fielding in the ring talking to bowlers. He is also a very cool, calm collected person who will be handy controlling things in the middle. We do expect them to have a good relationship so I think he (Morgan) will go a long way in winning many games for Kolkata Knight Riders during a very tight tournament,” said Hussey, 43.

Russell, Karthik and Morgan will be the anchors in the batting line-up, he said. “If Dre Russ comes at 3 and bats 60 balls, he might actually make a double hundred. He is a fantastic player, probably also the heartbeat of the team as well.”

In hot, windy conditions with the wickets tiring at the three venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, Hussey said spinners would play an important part especially because “a lot of overseas players don’t play spin very well.” He didn’t agree that KKR are not well stocked in that department. “We have a well-rounded bowling attack,” he said.

KKR have Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti among pace bowlers. Narine and Kuldeep Yadav are the frontline spinners with Varun Chakravarthy a left-field back-up option bought for Rs 4 crore. Karthik can also rely on Nitish Rana’s off-spin which got AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in successive deliveries in 2018.

Hussey said he could focus on the batting side of things but described his job as “the all-round role clarity person” who, mostly through one-on-one interactions, will try and get the players to maximise potential by staying relaxed in pressure situations. The boys are “chomping at the bit” to go and play, he said, adding that it is a privilege to be able to play in the time of Covid-19.

Hussey and head coach Brendon McCullum were part of KKR from 2008-2010 when they were a struggling outfit riven with issues, from captaincy to coaching. “We hit it off straight away. We didn’t know each other very well at that stage but we get on really well now. We have disagreements in how we should play but it is always in good fun, no emotion. It will be fun working with a guy who has a similar take on the game to myself. If anyone knows McCullum; he plays the game at a 100 miles an hour and he encourages the players to take the game on,” he said.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/cricke...avid-hussey/story-WNwCAyHHNxDyaPzGjihZHL.html

 

[MenInG]

3 failures in a row for Banton.... should have done better today but seems too eager to get on with the game and paying the price for it.

 

[MenInG]

So Tom Banton happy to give preference to IPL over his country but looks like he wont be an automatic selection.

===

Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are undeniably one of the most popular franchises in the tournament. The side is currently led by Dinesh Karthik, one of the most likeable Indian cricketers. The management would want Karthik to use his wealth of experience and guide the side to a third title in IPL 2020.

A side that once boasted of a very strong core group of Indian players now majorly relies on overseas cricketers to deliver the goods. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are the two inseparable members in the squad and the addition of Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins has only further strengthened KKR’s XI.

At the IPL 2020 auctions, the KKR management went deep into their pockets to splurge 21 crore on the two new recruits. While Morgan was bought for 5.5 crore, Cummins became the most expensive overseas cricketer in IPL history as KKR splurged a whopping 15. 5 crore to buy his services.

With Russell, Narine, Morgan and Cummins being the favourites for the quota of overseas cricketers, another talented recruit, Tom Banton, might have to warm the bench for a while. Lockie Ferguson, another world-class speedster in the team, will also have to wait to get an opportunity to feature in the playing XI.

Shubman Gill is one of India’s rising stars and he is likely to open the innings with Rahul Tripathi. While Narine is also another opening option for KKR, playing Tripathi lower down the order might not pay dividends considering his exploits as an opener. Nitish Rana, Karthik, Russell will form the middle order. DK, who did not get to face many deliveries in IPL 2019, will have to wisely change the batting order as per the situation. Karthik also needs to use Russell in the best possible manner.

In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav would want to move on from a forgettable IPL 2019 season and answer his critics in style. Narine, as well as Nitish Rana, will join Kuldeep in the spin department.

The lack of experience among Indian bowlers in the pace attack is an area of concern going into IPL 2020. While Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and Prasidh Krishna are all making the right noises, none of them have the experience to unsettle the world’s best batsmen. Cummins' four overs will be crucial and it remains to be seen whether Russell can bowl 4 overs on a regular basis.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...et-a-chance-to-prove-his-mettle-in-ipl/653356

 

[MenInG]

At the start of the 2019 county season, Tom Banton had yet to hit a half-century in any format in professional cricket. Now, barely 18 months later, he’s been capped by England, has earned lofty comparisons to Kevin Pietersen, and has played in high-profile T20 leagues around the world. He talks to Saj Sadiq about his rapid rise.

Tom Banton’s meteoric rise has made him one of England’s most talked about talents in white-ball cricket. It is an achievement that the 21-year-old says excites him, but also one that he is simply taking in his stride.

“My cricketing journey so far has undoubtedly been very exciting,” he tells Wisden.com. “I’m still very young and therefore the reality is that I expect to fail more times than I succeed, but on the back of that I’m always trying to learn from my mistakes and be better next time around. There are obviously times when I doubt myself, but I just try and enjoy my cricket as much as possible.”

Whilst he has so far represented England on 15 occasions, Banton feels that at this stage of his career he is just intent on enjoying the experience without putting too much pressure on himself.

“I’ve played a little bit for England now. I wouldn’t say I’ve settled into international cricket just yet, but I’ve had a couple of good knocks and feel like I can perform at that level which is good. International sport is obviously very hard, so I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to perform and the way I see it at the moment is that playing for your country is so much fun, so just enjoy the experience.”


Banton’s ability to regularly take apart bowling attacks in county cricket was what got him noticed by England’s selectors, but as he has soon realised, the gulf between domestic and international cricket isn’t an easy one to bridge.

“The jump from domestic cricket to international cricket has been massive. The first thing that you notice is that the bowling is a lot quicker and more accurate. At this level you have to make sure you keep on rotating the strike and put away the bad balls as you are not going to get too many freebies from the opposition. It’s all about making the most of those opportunities without putting yourself under too much pressure.”

After scoring an impressive 137 runs in three T20I innings against Pakistan, Banton was unable to repeat those exploits against Australia, but as he puts it, the experience of playing against Aaron Finch’s team will serve him well for the future.

“Everyone has bad series and I’ve accepted that’s going to happen whether that is at the domestic level or international level. That is just part and parcel of international sport. I didn’t do very well in the three T20Is against Australia, but they are one of the best teams in the world. The positive aspect of playing the three matches in Southampton was that it was good for my development and I was facing them so early in my career. I believe that despite the low scores I learnt a lot from playing against them and facing their bowlers.”

To many, Banton’s style of batting has more than a hint of the flamboyant aggression which used to be a trademark of Kevin Pietersen, but the Somerset batsman doesn’t want to be drawn into any comparisons yet.

“I’ve heard the Kevin Pietersen comparisons a few times now, but I don’t want to put any pressure on myself to even try to do the things he did. He is one of the greats and if I can achieve just some of what he did in his playing career, then I will be very satisfied. I am just trying to stay in the moment, keep my feet on the ground and not look too far ahead or for comparisons at this stage of my career.”

Whilst the financial rewards and chance to enhance one’s reputation are some of the attractions of playing in Twenty20 Leagues around the world, to Banton though, it’s important to balance his priorities and to prevent burnout.

“Last winter I probably did too much, and I was burnt out during the Pakistan Super League. Time at home and away from cricket is very important for me and having learnt some lessons from last year I need to make sure I plan my winters well from now on and not play too much cricket. Obviously international cricket is what I want to be playing and that’s the priority, but the England team is so strong at the moment so I’ll have to see which tours I am picked for and then balance that accordingly with Twenty20 leagues.”

A few eyebrows were raised when Banton opted to play in the Indian Premier League over playing for Somerset in the Bob Willis trophy final. As Banton explained, his decision to play in the IPL was based upon a unique opportunity to play in a world-class tournament which was too good to forego.

“Growing up as a kid, the Indian Premier League was something I always wanted to play in so I couldn’t turn it down when the offer came. I’m focusing a lot on white-ball cricket at the moment, so I feel like I’m learning a lot every day here at the IPL. It was an opportunity that was too good to turn down for my cricket development and it’s been an amazing experience.”

Being jetted in on a chartered plane to the lap of luxury in UAE and rubbing shoulders with some of the top names in world cricket is an experience that any player would be looking forward to. Add to that, the chance to work with Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum and it’s pretty clear why Banton is happy with life at the IPL.

“We have world class players at Kolkata Knight Riders, so it’s great to mix with them, learn from them and spend time with them. Also, the wickets out here in UAE are very different to what I’ve played on, so that’s another area of development for me. Also, our head coach Brendon McCullum has been very good to me. I’m very shy around new people so it takes me some time to start asking questions on the cricket side of things, but he has been very approachable. He was someone I looked up to and admired as a batsman when I was younger, so having him here in UAE and being able to pick his brain is awesome.”

Sharing a dressing room with players who are normally foes is what many in Twenty20 leagues such as the IPL experience and it is something that Banton is enjoying with his team-mate at Kolkata, Pat Cummins.

“It’s strange that one day you can be squaring up to each other on opposite sides and a short while later you are on the same team, as Pat Cummins and I are at the moment. But that’s modern-day cricket for you, especially with all of the franchise leagues being played around the world. He’s such a quality bowler and he’s really shown that already at the IPL. It’s been good sharing a dressing room with Pat and getting to know him a bit better. Having said that, now I just need to get him playing Call of Duty with me.”

The pressure to perform in a tournament like the IPL is immense in itself but having to perform under the scrutiny of his international captain in the same side is a situation that doesn’t worry Banton.

“It’s very good having Eoin Morgan with me at the IPL. He’s a cricketer who I admire and look up to. But I’m not going to put pressure on myself to perform in front of him. I’m just trying to learn as much as possible whatever the format and whether that is international cricket, county cricket or in Twenty20 leagues and I don’t think I need to add to the pressure and worry about who I need to impress.”


https://wisden.com/stories/exclusive/the-rapid-rise-of-tom-banton

 

[Saj]

Tom Banton has pulled out of the BBL because of bubble fatigue.

"It has been harder than I thought, spending so much time in the hubs and bubbles, and I came to the realisation that it wasn't doing me much good."

 

[The Viper]

IPL 2021: Former KKR Batsman Tom Banton Drops Hint of Skipping This Year’s Edition

England’s sensational batsman Tom Banton has dropped hints of skipping 2021 season of Indian Premier League. Banton, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders last season, was released by the franchise ahead of the 2021 mini-auction.

Banton joined KKR for a base price of INR 2 crore but he failed to get enough matches in his debut season. He played 2 games and scored just 18 runs.

The 22-year-old said that he loved watching IPL as a kid but at this stage of his career, he needs to be playing cricket rather than warming bench.

“Growing up as a kid the IPL was a tournament that I absolutely loved watching. But I feel like I’m at a stage now where I need to be playing cricket instead of sitting on the bench,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

Banton opened up his heart and said that the last year taught him a bit after being sat on the sidelines in the major franchise tournaments.

“The last year has taught me quite a bit, obviously all these tournaments are great but a lot of them I’ve been sat on the sidelines and not really doing a huge amount. I miss batting and playing cricket if I’m being honest,” he added.

However, Banton said he has not made a final decision about it and is thinking of playing red-ball games for Somerset in England as his ambition is to play Test cricket in future.

“I feel at this point in my career it’s probably best if I play a few red-ball games for Somerset and get back into that because I do miss playing red-ball cricket and my ambition is still to play Test cricket,” he said.

“We’ll have to wait and see. I still haven’t decided yet, but I’m just going to speak to a few people and try to decide from there.”

https://www.india.com/sports/ipl-20...-hint-of-skipping-this-years-edition-4363040/

 

[Bigboii]

IPL 2021: Former KKR Batsman Tom Banton Drops Hint of Skipping This Year’s Edition

England’s sensational batsman Tom Banton has dropped hints of skipping 2021 season of Indian Premier League. Banton, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders last season, was released by the franchise ahead of the 2021 mini-auction.

Banton joined KKR for a base price of INR 2 crore but he failed to get enough matches in his debut season. He played 2 games and scored just 18 runs.

The 22-year-old said that he loved watching IPL as a kid but at this stage of his career, he needs to be playing cricket rather than warming bench.

“Growing up as a kid the IPL was a tournament that I absolutely loved watching. But I feel like I’m at a stage now where I need to be playing cricket instead of sitting on the bench,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

Banton opened up his heart and said that the last year taught him a bit after being sat on the sidelines in the major franchise tournaments.

“The last year has taught me quite a bit, obviously all these tournaments are great but a lot of them I’ve been sat on the sidelines and not really doing a huge amount. I miss batting and playing cricket if I’m being honest,” he added.

However, Banton said he has not made a final decision about it and is thinking of playing red-ball games for Somerset in England as his ambition is to play Test cricket in future.

“I feel at this point in my career it’s probably best if I play a few red-ball games for Somerset and get back into that because I do miss playing red-ball cricket and my ambition is still to play Test cricket,” he said.

“We’ll have to wait and see. I still haven’t decided yet, but I’m just going to speak to a few people and try to decide from there.”

https://www.india.com/sports/ipl-20...-hint-of-skipping-this-years-edition-4363040/

Wish our batsmen had that thinking
Really good to see!

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Banton ramp was out in full force last night &#55357;&#56613;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blast22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blast22</a> <a href="https://t.co/mczgzHZ53p">pic.twitter.com/mczgzHZ53p</a></p>— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalityBlast/status/1539565420495228930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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